An interesting abstract published earlier this year: "Ageing is often defined in the context of
telomerase activity and
telomere length regulation. Most
somatic cells have limited
replication ability and undergo
senescence eventually.
Stem cells are unique as they possess more abundant telomerase activity and are able to maintain telomere lengths for a longer period.
Embryonic stem cells are particularly resistant to ageing and can be propagated indefinitely. Remarkably, adult somatic cells can be reprogrammed to an ESC-like state by various means including cell fusion, exposure to ESC cell-free extracts, enforced expression of specific molecules, and
somatic cell nuclear transfer. Thus, the rejuvenation of an 'aged' state can be effected by the activation of specific key molecules in the cell. Here, we argue that cellular ageing is a reversible process, and this is determined by the balance of biological molecules which directly or indirectly control telomere length and telomerase activity, either through altering gene expression and/or modulating the
epigenetic state of the
chromatin."
View the Article Under Discussion:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2006.11.020
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